BORO youngster Adam Reach teams up with the Boro squad for the first time tonight, as they head for Burnley.

The 18-year-old left-sided player, who struck a hat-trick for the reserves against his home town club Gateshead last week, is rewarded with his senior call up.

Whether or not he makes the bench for the clash with the play-off chasers, it is recognition of his rapid rise that manager Tony Mowbray has included him in the travelling party.

“He has emerged very well in the reserve team,” said Mowbray, who may bring in a few youngsters for the remaining games as he plots Boro’s future.

“He looks assured and has scored a few goals,” added the manager of a player who can play anywhere on the left side, and is a candidate for the left back slot should Premier League clubs follow up their interest in Joe Bennett.

“Reach has a good physical presence, is good on the ball and his performances have warranted inclusion.”

Boro are unbeaten in seven games, though are still not mathematically safe from the drop, so are playing for more than pride at Turf Moor.

“I hope the rustiness that was there on Saturday is now out of the legs, because our goal is to stay unbeaten and see how many points we can get,” said Mowbray.

“We face games against teams that can make the play-offs. Burnley certainly have a chance and this is their game in hand, so they will be looking to push closer.

“They went seven or eight without a win, then beat Swansea on Saturday. They dug in and will now be looking for impetus.

“The crowd will be behind them and we are up against a team that has something to play for. Therefore we must look after ourselves, be competitive, and try to play good football.”

Mowbray, who has Leroy Lita to call on again, after the experienced striker has recovered from a hamstring injury, gave a hint as to his game plan.

“The onus is on home teams to get a goal, and that means that they can be open. We can hurt them with pace on the break; punish them when spaces open up.”

The manager has been delighted with the attitude of 10-goal Lita, who is eager to regain top scorer status, after Scott McDonald nudged past Lita in his absence.

“Leroy has been badgering me for a week,” admitted Mowbray. “He says he feels fine. I am taking a slight gamble if I throw him and he breaks down, rather than leave him out and let him be fully fit.”

Mowbray feels the team will tonight be physically stronger than they were in Saturday’s draw with Barnsley.

“There have been too many players playing who have come back from injury, and the number of games left them a big leggy in the first half.”

And Mowbray faces the dilemma in the remaining games of whether to call up more young players.

“It’s a balance between giving

young lads a chance, while not forgetting, and being fair to, those senior players coming back from injury.”

Mowbray also paid tribute to Burnley’s Graham Alexander, who on Saturday became only the second player in the history of the English game to make 1,000 professional appearances.

The Boro bosss said of the 39-year-old: “He has had a really good career. And when he passes the ball he hits a claret and blue shirt.”